Tension regulator for spinning frame



Oct. 22, 1963 J. A. KoolsTRA 3,107,479

- TENsIoN REGULATOR FoR SPINNING FRAME Oct. 22, 1963 J. A. KoolsTRA 3,107,479

TENSION REGULATOR FOR SPINNING FRAME Filed Aug. 20, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 46 I 32 6'0 44 'I Il l 44 40 I*\ FL 30 ,2e 2 p8 3a 4a f 30 44 34 I l o l Elg.

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l 4 6 l f nq 3/ United States Patent O 3,107,479 TENSION REGULATOR FR SPINNlNG FRAME John A. Kooistra, North Andover, Mass., assigner to Davis & Furber Machine Company, North Andover,

Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Aug. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 217,962 7 Claims. (Cl. 57-73) This invention relates to the textile industry and is particularly concerned with an improvement applicable to each lspindle in a Spinning frame. More particularly the invention is @concerned with ring spinning in which the yarn comes to the spindle from feed rolls located thereabove, passes through an eye axially aligned with the spindle, then downwardly to the traveler on the spinning ring and finally is wound on the bobbin on the spindle.

Unless restrained in some manner during operation of the spindle, the yarn between the eye and the traveler will normally assume a configuration known as a balloon. This is objectionable when the spindles are close because the balloon of one spindle hits the balloon of the next, damaging the yarn. Various anti-ballooning devices have been used. One form which has come in to some use is a toothed mechanism added to the upper end of the spindle which engages the yarn asl it travels downwardly from the eye. This causes the yarn to rotate -at this position at spindle speed `and to wrap itself around the bobbin for a few turns on its yway to the traveler. Since the yarn is Wrapped around the bobbin as it moves to the traveler, ballooning is entirely eliminated. It is -well known that the Weakest part of any yarn being spun is that portion which immediately leaves the bite of the feed rolls. The object of all tension relieving devices is to relieve the yarn tension between the pot eye and the bite of the feed rolls which is caused by the traveler pull. By so doing, the production of the machine can be materially increased. Accordingly, with the yarn sufficiently strengthened by the twist applied `above the spindle, it may then be placed under greater tension as it is pulled Spirally down the bobbin to the traveler.

` In this toothed type mechanism or various other types of collapsed balloon spinning methods, there is a serious disadvantage which relates to doiiing a bobbin. When the bobbin is full and is to be doffed, the spindle yis stopped; but before the bobbin can be removed from the spindle, the yarn that is twisted around the bobbin must be untwisted by hand. This is time consuming and represents considerable work for the operator.

In the prior ant devices of this general character, various means have been used to cause the yarn to free itself from the bobbin as the spindle is decelerating prior to dofng. One such construction is shown in Britist Patent No. 702,618 of 1952 in which the `guide eye located immediately above the spindle is automatically raised as the spindle Idecelerates. 'Ibis causes the yarn to free itself from the teeth of the anti-ballooning device on the top of the spindle whereby the yarn between the guide eye and the traveler immediately resumes its normal balloon formation for the short remaining time while the spindle is coming to a stop. Thus when the bobbin is doffed the yarn between the guide eye and the traveler is free of the bobbin and dofiing may be conducted in the normal manner.

The present invention as far as causing the yarn to wind itself a few times around the bobbin as it moves from the guide eye to the traveler operates on the same principle as the disclosures in the above referred to British Patent and in United States Patent No. 3,032,960 of 196,2 to Kartmann. The improvement, however, that constitutes the present invention resides in novel mechanism which functions automatically to cause the yarn to wind itself 3,107,479 Patented Oct. 22, 1963 about the bobbin in the first instance to prevent ballooning during the spinning operation and which automatically frees the yarn from connection with the upper end of the spindle during the decelerating period immediately prior to dofiing of the bobbin whereby the yarn may momentarily resume its typical balloon formation. These results 'are accomplished without shifting the position of the guide eye.

A further advantageous result produced by lthe mechanism which will be explained in detail hereinafter is that kinking of the yarn either during starting or stopping of the spindle is substantially eliminated.

These and other advantages will become more apparent yas the description proceeds with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a spindle mounted on a spindle rail with a bobbin thereon. The yarn is shown in the two positions it assumes during operation of the spindle;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-section of the upper end of the spindle and tension regulator;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 looking upwardly;

FIG. 4 isa plan view of FIG. 2 with the cover removed;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of FIG. 4 showing the novel structure removed from the upper end of the spindle;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the cover; and

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 6.

Referring iirs't to FIG. l, a spindle generally referred to at 2 is mounted on a spindle rail 4. The particular construction of the spindle is immaterial tothe application of the invention except that the upper end of the spindle must be made in `a manner that will perm-it application thereto of the tension regulator generally referred to at 6. The spindle includes a whorl 8 which is driven by a conventional :tape (not shown). In the presen-t instance, the spindle 10 per se is tubular and terminates at 12 at its upper end. A conventional bobbin 14 -is shown mounted on the spindle 10. The bobbin is frictionally secured Ito the spindle at its upper end by .a set of pressure buttons 16 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) which are spaced 12.01 apart. A similar set of buttons (not shown) at the lower end of the spindle grip the -lower end of the bobbin. The upper set of pressure buttons are mounted in the shank 18 of the body of the 4tension regulator while the lower set are in the spindle whorl. The body of the regulator indicated at v20 has a circumferential vflange 22 which limits the extent of entry of the body 2o into spindle '10.

The interior of body 20 is in the form of ia cylindrical cavi-ty 24 into which is fitted a plug 26 having on its upper end a cylindrical extension 28 ywhich acts as a stop to Ilimit inward swinging motion of four elements 30 which are pivotally affixed -to the upper end of body 20.

The construction of the upper part of body 20 on which the elements 30 are mounted is as follows: Referring to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the body starting at shoulder 31 is o-f reduced diameter Iat 33 and terminates in a conical end 35. The upper end of the body down as far as 37 is slotted at right angles as at 32 and 34. This produces four supports or corner posts y40 with slots 36 therebetween. In each of the four slots is positioned an element 30. These elements lare freely pivoted on transversely extending pivot pins 318. The corner posts 40 have been cut away somewhat as at 42 for assembly of pins 33 for hold-ing elements 30.

lEach of the elements 30 has a radially extending finger 44 plainly shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5. 'I'he pivoted elements 36 are held in an inwardly constrained position by a circular tension spring 46. The inward movement of the lower ends of elements 30 is 'limited by engagement with the cylindrical extension 28 of plug 26. The entire upper structure of body including the corner posts 40 and the pivoted elements 30 are protected by a cover 48 which makes a friction tight fit with the upper end of body 20 and rests at its lower edge on flange 22. Cover 48 has its upper portion in the form of a truncated cone 50 and in the surface of this part are four openings 52 which are spaced at 90 and aligned with the fingers 44. Thus if the elements 30 are caused to swing outwardly as shown in solid lines in FIG. 2 the fingers 44 will extend through openings 52 in the manner shown.

Spring 46 is of such strength that its constraining influence on elements 30 will not be overcome until the spindle reaches about 2500l rpm. The centrifugal force then acting on elements 30 is sufficient to stretch spring 46, causing the fingers 44, which had previously been within the conical surface 50 of cover 48, to extend through openings 52 an appreciable distance.

It will be noted in FIG. `l that the conical configuration 50 of the upper part `of cover 48 is such, when considered in relation to the eye 54, that the yarn 56 passing through the eye on its way to traveler 57 on the spinning ring 58 will lie against and parallel to the conical surface 50. Thus it is apparent that as soon as the fingers 44 emerge through the opening 52 the yarn 56 will immediately be engaged by one of the fingers 44. It is immaterial which finger 44 initially engages the yarn; but, when the yarn is so engaged, the instantaneous result is that the yarn wraps itself around the bobbin in generally helical form as indicated iat 60 in FIG. 1 so that the balloon is eliminated and a most desirable spinning condition is established in which the tension of the yarn 56 above pot eye 54 is relieved. Thereafter as spinning proceeds, with the traveler lagging behind the spindle speed in the usual manner, the yarn correspondingly retreats from finger to finger in the same manner as the yarn shifts from tooth to tooth as explained in the above referred to patent to Kartmann, 3,032,960.

With the yarn in this helical position on the bobbin, that portion of the yarn between the upper end of the spindle and the feed rolls (not shown) to which -twist is being applied is under less tension than the yarn running helically between the fingers 44 and the traveler 56, which part of the yarn is then in a strong twisted condition capable of withstanding a considerable load. Thus as the spinning operation proceeds, the yarn can be very tightly wound on the bobbin without breaking and a much heavier package is produced. At the same time, spindle speed can be greatly increased because of the strength of the yarn below finger 44.

When the bobbin 14 has been filled with yarn or if at any time during the process of filling the bobbin it becomes necessary to stop the entire spinning machine, the speed of all of the spindles will decelerate and as the oecelerating speed approaches approximately 2500 r.p.m. the centrifugal force on elements 30 is lessened sufhciently so that the tension spring 46 4automatically pulls the riveted elements 30 inwardly to cause retraction of all of the fingers 44 to a position within the cover. When this happens, yarn S6 is automatically freed from the finger that has been engaging it; and, when so freed, the yarn immediately moves into a conventional ballooning position as indicated at 66 in FIG. 1. Then when the spindle has come to a halt, the yarn 56 is in condition for conventional dofiing, which is accomplished in the usual manner.

When a spindle is defied, the eye 54 carried by arm 66 and pivoted at 70 is swung upwardly by the operator out of the way, but the yarn coming down from the feed rolls above remains in position in eye 54 and traveler 56. Hence when the new bobbin is placed on the spindle and the arm 68 swung down to the position shown in FIG. 1, no re-threading of the yarn is necessary either at eye 54 or traveler S7. The yarn may 4 then be attached to the bobbin for a prompt recommencement of a spinning operation.

In the use of this tension regulator, it has been found that spindle speeds as high as 11,000* r.p.rn. can be used. Breaking of the yarn is substantially eliminated and this results in a very great increase in production as well as increased weight of yarn on each bobbin.

Accordingly, it is not our intention to confine the invention to the precise form of the preferred embodiment herein shown but rather to limit it in terms of the ap pended claims.

Having thus described and disclosed the preferred embodiment of my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. An anti-ballooning device for use with the spindle of a spinning frame which frame includes a spinning ring and traveler, said device comprising a smooth circular surface at the upper end of said spindle, yarn intercepting means acting under centrifugal lforce arranged to move outwardly beyond the said surface after the spindle speed has accelerated from zero to a predetermined rpm. and means for causing retraction of said yarn intercepting means when the spindle speed is decelerated to fall below a predetermined r.p.m. figure.

2. An anti-ballooning device for use with a spindle of a spinning frame which includes a spinning ring and traveler, said anti-ballooning device comprising a conical surface on the upper end of said spindle having its axis in alignment with the spindle axis, a plurality of openings through said surface, a plurality of centrifugally actuated elements having fingers extending radially therefrom which move outwardly through the said openings in said conical surface when the speed of said spindle exceeds a predetermined r.p.rn. as the spindle accelerates and which said fingers retract within said conical surface when the speed of said spindle becomes less than a predetermined r.p.m. as the spindle speed is decelerating.

3. A spindle for use in a spinning frame which in cludes a spinning ring and traveler, said spindle having at its upper end a tension regulator, said tension regulator comprising a plurality `of pivoted elements so positioned that upon rotation of said spindle the elements will be subject to centrifugal force to cause said elements to swing radially outwardly, means for holding said elements against outward movement at low rotational speeds while permitting outward movement at higher rotational speeds, radially extending fingers on said elements, a cover enclosing said elements, apertures in said cover in radial alignment with said fingers whereby when said elements are held inwardly by said spring said fingers will be below the surface of the cover but when the elements are swung outwardly by centrifugal force at higher rotational speeds said ngers will extend beyond the surface of the cover, an eye for guiding yarn positioned above said cover in axial alignment with the spindle at such d1's tance that the normal path of yarn passing through said eye on its way to the traveler on the spinning ring will pass closely over the surface of the cover and will be engaged by one of said fingers when the fingers are extended through the said cover.

4. In a spinning frame which includes a spinning ring and traveler, a spindle comprising a metal tube, a tension regulator affixed to the upper end of said tube in axial alignment therewith, said tension regulator comprising a plurality of supports, a plurality of elements pivotally affixed to said supports for radial movement with respect thereto, each of said elements having an outwardly extending finger thereon, a cover on the upper end of said tension regulator enclosing said elements, a plurality of apertures through said cover whereby when said elements are swung radially about their pivots the said fingers will extend outwardly through said apertures, means for maintaining said fingers retracted within said cover when the rotational speed of said spindle is below a predetermined r.p.m., said means permitting outward radial movement of said elements under centrifugal force to cause said fingers to move outwardly through said apertures when the rotational speed increases beyond said predetermined r.p.m., an eye above and in axial alignment with said spindle, said fingers when extended through said apertures moving across the normal path 0f yarn on its way from said eye to the traveler on said spinning ring, whereby one of said extended liingers will intercept said yarn to cause said yarn to wrap itself around the bobbin on its way lto the traveler, thereby eliminating the conventional balloon at all speeds above said predetermined r.p.m., said lingers being retracted when the rotational speed of said spindle `falls below a predetermined r.p.m. to free said yarn and to allow a normal balloon to develop.

5. A tension regulator for use with a bobbin, said regulator comprising a cylindrical shank to be attached to the upper end of said bobbin, a plurality of upwardly extending spaced supports integral with said shank, a radially movable element pivotally mounted between each pair of spaced supports, each said element having a radially extending linger thereon, means acting on all of saidelements to normally hold said elements in contracted position toward the axis of said bobbin, a cover having a generally cylindrical lower wall positioned on the upper part of said shank and covering said supports and elements, the upper part of said cover being generally conical and having a plurality of apertures therethrough aligned with said fingers whereby when said lingers are moved outwardly under the inliuence of centrifugal force acting on said elements as the spindle rotates above a predetermined r.p.m., said fingers will extend outwardly beyon-d the said conical surface a distance suiicient to engage and hold in rotation therewith a yarn which may then be moving ydownwardly along the said conical su-rface.

6i. A device for twisting yarn comprising a spindle with a bobbin receiving shaft portion and having a -free end extending above the bobbin when the bobbin is positioned on said spindle, said free end comprising a generally cylindrical head Ion said spindle co-axial therewith, the upper end of said head being conical and having openings therethrough, a plurality of centrifugally actuated ngers which are pivotally mounted within said head and which swing outwardly through said openings when the spindle speed exceeds a predetermined r.p.m., thereby to` engage yarn passing downwardly along said conical surface and to cause said yarn at the point of engagement with said linger t-o rotate at spindle speed.

7. An anti-ballooning device for use with the spindle of a spinning frame which frame includes a spinning ring and traveler, said device comprising a smooth circular surface at the upper end of said spindle, yarn intercepting means arranged to move outwardly beyond the said surface after the spindle speed has accelerated from zero to a predetermined r.p.m., and means for causing retraction of said yarn intercepting means when the spindle speed is decelerated to fall below a predetermined r.p.m.

References Cited in the tile of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 704,037 Great Britain Feb. 17, 1954 

1. AN ANTI-BALLOONING DEVICE FOR USE WITH THE SPINDLE OF A SPINNING FRAME WHICH FRAME INCLUDES A SPINNING RING AND TRAVELER, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A SMOOTH CIRCULAR SURFACE AT THE UPPER END OF SAID SPINDLE, YARN INTERCEPTING MEANS ACTING UNDER CENTRIFUGAL FORCE ARRANGED TO MOVE OUTWARDLY BEYOND THE SAID SURFACE AFTER THE SPINDLE SPEED HAS ACCELERATED FROM ZERO TO A PREDETERMINED R.P.M. AND MEANS FOR CAUSING RETRACTION OF SAID YARN INTERCEPTING MEANS WHEN THE SPINDLE SPEED IS DECELERATED TO FALL BELOW A PREDETERMINED R.P.M. FIGURE. 